Benjamin t



(No Model.) v

B. T. BABBITT.

METHOD OF PUTTING UP GAUSTIG ALKALI.

No.260,272 Patented June 27, 1882 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN T. BABBITT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

METHOD OF PUTTING UP CAUSTIC ALKALI.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 260,272, dated June 27, i882. Application filed March 4, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BENJAMIN T. BABBITT, of the city and county of New York, in the State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in the Method of Putting up Caustic Alkali in Cans. or Cases, of which the following is a specification.

The cheapest form of air-tight tin can or case which has been used for putting up caustic alkali is one composed of a straight cylindric body, and heads consisting of simple disks with their rims turned outward and slipped into the body and secured by solder without lapping or overseaming. Both of the heads of such a can have commonly been slipped into and secured in the body before filling with caustic alkali, and one of the heads has been provided with a filling-opening which has been closed by an extra cap, soldered on after filling. This has been necessary, because the bodies of these cans are not always perfectly round before both heads are inserted, and if a can the body of which is out of round is filled and the alkali is allowed to set, the head cannot be readily inserted, because the solid contents of the can will prevent the body from readily adapting itself to the perfectly-round head when an attempt is made to slip it into the body.

The object of my invention is to provide for filling cans of the kind above described before the second head is inserted in the body,which will permit of both heads being made imperforatc, and by dispensing with the closing-cap and the soldering of the cap upon the head will stillfnrthercheapen the cost'of puttiu g up caustic alkali in'air-tight cans or cases.

To this end myinvention consists in a novel method of putting up'caustic alkali in cans of the kind above described, each composed of a cylindric body and heads provided with outwardlyturned flanges inserted therein, said method consisting in filling the cans with the molten alkali before the second headis inserted, then inserting said head into the body and pressing it down upon the molten alkali before the latter has become sufficiently set or hardened to prevent the body from readily adaptiugitself to the head, and. finally, after the alkali has become set or solidified, soldering the head in the can.

In the accompanying'drawings,Figure 1 represents a central section of a can of alkali put up according to my invention. Fig. 2 represents a similar view, showing the second head as just about to be inserted or pressed into the body; and Fig. 3 represents a sectional view of a number of cans, showing how the heads are pressed into the bodies after filling.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A designates the body of the can, which is of cylindric form, and B B designate the two heads which close the ends of the body, and each of which has an outwardlyprojecting flange or rim, a. Theheads are perfectly round, and it will be readily understood that even if the body of the can is not perfectly round at either end, as is very apt to be the case, it will be made so by inserting the head into the end as the flexible body will readily adapt itself to the head. One head of a can of thls kind is commonly made with ahole, through which the can is filled; but I make both heads imperiorate throughout.

In carrying out myinvention the head B of the can, which is the lower head when the can is filled, is inserted into and soldered to the body before the can is'filled; but the other or upper end of the body is left entirely open. The caustic alkaliis then runinto the cansin the usual way, and immediately thereafter, while the alkali is molten and before it has had time to set or become hardened or solidified, the second head, B, is pressed into the body and down upon the alkali.

In Fig. 2 I have represented the head B as resting upon the body and in position to be forced or slipped into the body bya downward pressure. The molten alkali of the can offers no resistance to the body, readily adapting itself to the round head, even though the body may vary from a perfectly-cylindric form. The head could not be readily pressed in if the contents of the can were set or hardened, because the solid contents would tend to preservathe body in its original form, and would prevent it from readily adapting'itself to the round head of the can.

The cans are placed in a row or group for filling, and immediately after filling the second heads, B, may be placed thereon and a number of them pressed into the can-bodies at once by placing a board or plate, 0, upon them, as

shown in Fig. 3, and applying a downward pressure thereon.

In Fig. 3 the heads 13 are represented as partly pressed into the can-bodies A. After the second heads, 13, are pressed into place the cans are left standing until the contained alkaliis set or hardened, and the said heads are then soldered to the body in the usual way.

In. order to prevent the solder which secures the heads B from being melted by the heat of the molten alkali, the joint may be cooled while filling the cans.

I am aware that it is not new, broadly consired, to fill cans before the second head is applied or inserted, as cans for fruits, milk, paint,"and other substances have been filled in this Way; but usually the second head of the can is provided with an inwardly turned flange, which fits outside or inside the canbody, and it has been impossible to press the second head down closely upon the alkali,because of the head striking upon and being stopped by the top of the can-body or a shoulder thereon. Moreover, the cans have been commonly used for such substances as willnot become solids,while an essential feature of my method consists in filling the can with molten alkali and pressing the head down close upon the contents before the alkali has set or s0lidi fied, and in soldering the can by dipping or otherwise after the alkali has set or solidified.

What I claim as myinvention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The method of putting up caustic alkali in cans of the kind above described, each co1nposed of a cylindrie body and heads having i outwardly-turned flanges and inserted into the body, said method consisting in filling the cans with the molten alkali before the second heads are inserted, then inserting said heads into the bodies of the cans while the alkali is in a molten state and beforeit has set or solidified, and pressing the heads down upon the alkali, and finally, and after the alkali has set or hardened, soldering said heads in the cans,

substantially as herein described.

B. '1. BABBITT. Witnesses:

FREDK. Haynes, En. MORAN. 

